System and method for information handling system image network communication

ABSTRACT

A system and method for information handling system manufacture analyzes an image to determine a traits definition that identifies the operating system, applications and unique information of the image, such as in a XML file. The image traits definition may be communicated to a manufacture site over a network and used to re-create the image for copying to a manufactured information handling system. Communication of the image traits definition consumes less network and storage resources than communication of the image, thus reducing the time and expense of image transfers to manufacture information handling systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to the field of informationhandling system manufacture, and more particularly to a system andmethod for information handling system image communication over anetwork to a manufacture location.

2. Description of the Related Art

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option available to users is information handling systems. Aninformation handling system generally processes, compiles, stores,and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or otherpurposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of theinformation. Because technology and information handling needs andrequirements vary between different users or applications, informationhandling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled,how the information is handled, how much information is processed,stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the informationmay be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in informationhandling systems allow for information handling systems to be general orconfigured for a specific user or specific use such as financialtransaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage,or global communications. In addition, information handling systems mayinclude a variety of hardware and software components that may beconfigured to process, store, and communicate information and mayinclude one or more computer systems, data storage systems, andnetworking systems.

Businesses often order multiple numbers of information handling systemsfor manufacture with predetermined software configurations so that theinformation handling systems will arrive at the business ready for use.The software configurations generally include specified operatingsystems and applications as well as customization settings, such as harddisc drive partitions, network settings, application settings, userprofiles and data, and even desktop settings. In some instances,businesses will prepare an image of a hard disc drive having the desiredsoftware configuration and will provide the image to the informationhandling system manufacturer for copying to manufactured informationhandling systems. The businesses will send the image to the informationhandling system manufacturer who, in turn, sends the image to variousdevelopment and fulfillment centers for manufacture preparation. Oncethe business image is tested and prepared for promotion to the factory,the image is sent to the manufacture location for copying tomanufactured information handling systems. The manufactured informationhandling systems are then sent to the business with the desired imageready to interact with the business' information technology environment.

One difficulty with the manufacture of information handling systemsusing customer images is that the images are generally large in size andthus take considerable time to transfer by network communication. Forinstance, a typical notebook information handling system image hasmultiple gigabytes of information and takes hours to communicate throughnetworks to overseas manufacturing sites. Additional delays are oftenintroduced by the initial communication of the image from the customerto the manufacturer and communication of the image within variousmanufacturer development and fulfillment centers for testing andmanufacture preparation. Further, storage of images at variousmanufacture centers consumes considerable memory resources for theextended time period during which the images are communicated, testedand used. Overall, the manufacture of information handling systems withimages provided by customers and communicated by networks through themanufacturer centers generally imposes relatively high storage, networkand management costs, as well as decreased customer satisfaction due todelays in manufacture and delivery of ordered information handlingsystems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore a need has arisen for a system and method which moreefficiently communicates information handling system images overnetworks for manufacture of information handling systems with an image.

In accordance with the present invention, a system and method areprovided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problemsassociated with previous methods and systems for manufacture ofinformation handling systems with an image. An image is analyzed toidentify a traits definition that allows re-creation of the image, andthe traits definition is communicated over a network to a manufacturelocation. The traits definition is applied at the manufacture locationto re-create the image for copying to an information handling system.

More specifically, an order site image analyzer accepts an image from acustomer site and analyzes the image to identify the operating system,applications and unique information, such as registry settings andapplication forms and templates. An image decompressor decompresses theimage for analysis by a settings engine, mapping engine and applicationengine that create an image traits definition XML file. For instance,the image traits definition has a schema with elements to identify theoperating system including service packs and patches, the applicationsincluding forms and templates, registry settings including videoresolution, network and power management settings, and other customconfiguration information including hard disc drive partitions, computername, local account, domain name, modem and desktop settings. The imagetraits definition is communicated by a network to a distal manufacturesite image rebuilder that re-creates the image from an image componentlibrary and the unique information. The re-created image is then copiedto manufactured information handling systems to ship to the customerthat ordered the image. In one embodiment, the image analyzer resides atthe customer site to create the image traits definition at the customersite for communication to the manufacturer, thus reducing customer useof network resources to communicate an image to a manufacturer formanufacture of an information handling system.

The present invention provides a number of important technicaladvantages. One example of an important technical advantage is thatsubstantially less information is actually communicated in the transferof an image traits definition than an entire image. The image traitsdefinition essentially represents an image DNA that allows reproductionof a cloned image at the manufacture site with traits defined by anoriginal image. An information handling system is built with the clonedimage in substantially less time since the delays of communication ofthe entire image are not experienced. Further, overhead costs of networkand storage capacity are substantially reduced due to the reduced sizeof the image traits definition compared against the size of the completeimage. For example, a common portable information handling system imagehas a size of multiple gigabytes while the traits definition for thatimage has a size of around 20 kilobytes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be better understood, and its numerousobjects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in theart by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the samereference number throughout the several figures designates a like orsimilar element.

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a system for creation of an imagetraits definition, communication of the traits definition to a distallocation and re-creation of the image from the traits definition formanufacture of an information handling system;

FIGS. 2A and 2B (referred to herein as FIG. 2) depict an example of anXML schema for an image traits definition; and

FIG. 3 depicts a flow diagram of a process for manufacture of aninformation handling system with an image traits definition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Manufacture of information handling systems with an image is performedwith consumption of less network and memory resources by creating animage traits definition, communicating the traits definition to a distalmanufacturing site and re-creating the image from the traits definitionfor copying to manufactured information handling systems. For purposesof this disclosure, an information handling system may include anyinstrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute,classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch,store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilizeany form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific,control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling systemmay be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any othersuitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality,and price. The information handling system may include random accessmemory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/orother types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of theinformation handling system may include one or more disk drives, one ormore network ports for communicating with external devices as well asvarious input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, anda video display. The information handling system may also include one ormore buses operable to transmit communications between the varioushardware components.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram depicts a system 10 forcreation of an image traits definition 12 from an information handlingsystem image 14, communication of traits definition 12 to a distallocation and re-creation of image 14 from traits definition 12 formanufacture of an information handling system 16. Information handlingsystem image 14 is created by a customer at a customer site 18 to meetthat customer's specific goals by including a desired operating system,desired applications and unique information. The unique informationgenerally configures information handling system 16 to interact withcustomer site 18 in a desired manner and includes configurationinformation as well as forms and templates for the applications. Theconfiguration information defines the operational parameters ofinformation handling system 16, such as the hard disc drive partitions,power management and video resolution, the user profile such as theowner and computer name, the network settings such as the location,domain and modem settings, and the desktop settings. Typically,customers configure images for ordered information handling systems sothat the systems as delivered by the manufacturer to customer site 18are prepared to enter an operational state with little delay or customersite manipulation. Information handling system image 14 is thencommunicated by network 20, such as the Internet, to a manufacturerorder site for testing and copying to manufactured information handlingsystems.

Customer images are accepted from network 20 by an order site imageanalyzer 22, which analyzes the images to identify the operating system,applications and unique information for creation of image traitsdefinition 12. An image decompressor 24 decompresses the image to itsinstalled form for analysis by a settings engine 26. Settings engine 26determines the operating system and applications of the image andextracts the custom configuration information. For instance a registrytemplate finds settings from the operating system registry, such as thevideo resolution, network and power management settings. A mappingengine 28 maps settings from any outdated configurations to up-to-dateconfigurations. For instance, operating system upgrades, patches andservice packs that alter registry settings from earlier operating systemversions are mapped to the earlier versions so that image traitsdefinition 12 will support an image having an updated operating system.An application engine 30 analyzes the decompressed image to identifyunique information associated with applications, such as forms andtemplates. Order site image analyzer 22 then saves the identifiedinformation to an image traits definition having Extensible MarkupLanguage (XML) schema such as that depicted by FIG. 2. The XML schemaincludes elements adequate to support re-creation of informationhandling system 14, such as the operating system name, the customerapplications, the operating system service packs and patches, customconfiguration information and desktop settings.

Once order site image analyzer 22 creates image traits definition XMLfile 12, image traits definition 12 is sent through network 20, such asthe Internet, to a manufacture site image rebuilder 32. Manufacture siteimage rebuilder 32 reads the attributes from the XML schema of imagetraits definition 12 to re-create information handling system 14. Thesoftware components for the image re-creation, such as the operatingsystem and applications, are called from an image components library 34and populated with the custom configuration and other unique informationof image traits definition 12. The re-created image is then provided toan information handling system burn rack 34 for copying to manufacturedinformation handling system 16. By identifying the “DNA” of the image,image traits definition 12 substantially reduces the amount ofinformation that is communicated in order to transfer an image 14 acrossa network 20. In alternative embodiments, image analyzer 22 may belocated at customer site 18 so that the customer communicates the imagetraits definition 12 to order information handling systems having image14. In such an embodiment, the manufacturer distributes image rebuilder32 at the various manufacturer sites that use the full image, such asfor testing.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a flow diagram depicts a process formanufacture of an information handling system with an image traitsdefinition. The process begins at step 36 with creation of aninformation handling system image. At step 38, the image is communicatedto a manufacturer for copying to an ordered information handling system.At step 40, the image is decompressed so that, at step 42, the settingsare read with a registry template to identify the operating system,applications and custom configuration information of the image. At step44, the information is mapped to adjust for any updates to the operatingsystem and, at step 46, custom application information, such as formsand templates are read. At step 48, an image traits definition iscreated from the identified information to have adequate description ofthe image for subsequent re-creation of the image. At step 50, the imagetraits definition is communicated across a network, such as theInternet, to a manufacture site. At step 52, the image is recreated fromthe image traits definition and an image component library at themanufacture site so that the image mirrors the original imagecommunicated to the manufacturer. At step 54, the re-created image iscopied to manufactured information handling systems for shipment to thecustomer that defined the image.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it shouldbe understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can bemade hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

1. A system for manufacture of information handling systems, the systemcomprising: an image analyzer operable to accept an image and generatean image traits definition, the image traits definition having amanifest of the image's software characteristics and customizationsettings; and an image rebuilder distal to and interfaced with the imageanalyzer through a network, the image rebuilder operable to apply theimage traits definition to an image components library to rebuild theimage; and an information handling system burn rack proximate to theimage rebuilder and operable to copy the rebuilt image to a manufacturedinformation handling system.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the imageanalyzer comprises: an image decompressor operable to decompress theimage; a settings engine operable to determine customization settings ofthe decompressed image and to store the settings in the image traitsdefinition; and an application engine operable to determine the softwarecharacteristics and to store the software characteristics in the imagetraits definition.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein customizationsettings comprise video resolution, network and power managementsettings.
 4. The system of claim 2 wherein software characteristicscomprise application names, application templates, application forms andapplication settings.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the image traitsdefinition is an XML file having a schema with plural elements.
 6. Thesystem of claim 5 wherein the elements comprise an operating system,application, operating system update, custom configuration and desktopsetting elements.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the image analyzer isproximate an information handling system manufacturer order siteoperable to receive images from customers.
 8. The system of claim 1wherein the image analyzer is proximate an information handling systemcustomer order site operable to communicate an information handlingsystem order to a manufacturer.
 9. A method for manufacture of aninformation handling system having an image, the method comprising:creating the image to have an operating system, plural applications andunique information; analyzing the image to create an image traitsdefinition that identifies the operating system, plural applications andunique information; communicating the image traits definition over anetwork to an information handling system manufacture site; re-creatingthe image from the image traits definition and a component libraryhaving the operating system and plural applications; and copying there-created image to a manufactured information handling system.
 10. Themethod of claim 9 wherein creating the image further comprises creatingthe image at a customer site and analyzing the image further comprisesanalyzing the image at a manufacturer order site.
 11. The method ofclaim 10 further comprising shipping the manufactured informationhandling system to the customer site.
 12. The method of claim 9 whereincreating the image further comprises creating the image at a customersite and analyzing the image further comprises analyzing the image atthe customer site.
 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:communicating the image traits definition from the customer site to amanufacturer order site; re-creating the image at the manufacturer ordersite; and testing the re-created image before communicating the imagetraits definition to the manufacture site.
 14. The method of claim 9wherein the image traits definition is an XML file.
 15. The method ofclaim 9 wherein the unique information comprises configuration settingsand application templates and forms.
 16. The method of claim 15 whereinthe configuration settings comprise hard disc drive partitions, theoperating system, applications, user profile information, videoresolution, power management and network settings.
 17. The method ofclaim 9 wherein the network comprises the Internet.
 18. A method formanufacture of an information handling system with an image, the methodcomprising: analyzing the image to create an image traits definition XMLfile, the image traits definition identifying the image operatingsystem, applications and unique settings; communicating the image traitsdefinition over a network to a manufacture site; re-creating the imageat the manufacture site with the image traits definition; and copyingthe re-created image to an information handling system.
 19. The methodof claim 18 wherein the analyzing further comprises comparing a registrytemplate with the registry of the image to determine at least some ofthe unique settings.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein analyzingfurther comprises determining templates and forms associated with atleast one image application and storing the templates and forms asunique settings.